Dawn Wells

Actress

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her nearly two-hour interview, Dawn Wells (1938-2020) reflects upon her career on the stage and on the big and small screens. Still recognized as the wholesome "Mary Ann Summers" from Gilligan's Island, Wells describes what the show means to her and takes us behind the scenes of several memorable episodes, including "The Matchmaker," in which "Mrs. Howell" attempts to set up "Mary Ann" and "Gilligan." She discusses her experience as a member of the Foreign Press, interviewing celebrities for press junkets, and details her involvement with the Children's Miracle Network Telethon, a cause near and dear to her heart. She speaks about the creation of her clothing line, Wishing Wells, and comments on the question many have now pondered for decades, "Do you prefer Ginger or Mary Ann?" Steven Wishnoff conducted the interview on December 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"There hasn't been a Mary Ann on the air for I don't know how long. There hasn't been a good girl over 14, and Mary Ann was very much that. The Mary Ann-Ginger issue is always there. You had to be a real man to understand Ginger, and Mary Ann would've gone to the prom with you and been your best friend. A lot of guys would come up to me and say I married a Mary Ann. She had the values."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

On the legendary question of one's preference, "Ginger or Mary Ann?"

01:20

On why the Professor and Mary Ann were credited as "the rest" on Gilligan's Island

01:19

On the legacy of Gilligan's Island

01:22

Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers, as a role model

01:42

On how the Coast Guard received telegrams asking them to rescue the people stranded on Gilligan's Island

00:34

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her childhood and early influences

On being Miss Nevada and on her first television appearance -- on the Miss America pageant; on game shows she was on

On Gilligan's Island

On other TV shows and productions she's done

Chapter 2

On working as part of the Foreign Press and interviewing celebrities

On her clothing line, Wishing Wells; and on the Children's Miracle Network Telethon

On teaching acting; on the Spud Fest Family Film Festival

On the next chapter of her life; on her proudest moment; on her regrets and advice to actors

On colleagues, TV shows and on films she's worked on

On her current projects and how she'd like to be remembered

On setting the record straight about a car accident she was in; on celebrity

Shows

77 Sunset Strip

Dawn Wells on working on 77 Sunset Strip

00:52

ALF

Dawn Wells on working on ALF

00:31

Baywatch

Dawn Wells on working on Baywatch

00:32

Bonanza

Dawn Wells on working on Bonanza

00:41

Family Feud

Dawn Wells on the game shows she's been on

00:17

Gilligan's Island

Dawn Wells on working on Gilligan's Island

43:40

Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song

00:36

Dawn Wells on how Gilligan's Island changed her life

00:24

Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan

00:28

Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island

01:13

Gilligan's Island: "The Matchmaker"

Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan

00:28

Gilligan's Island: "V is for Vitamins"

Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island

01:13

Growing Pains

Dawn Wells on guest starring on Growing Pains

00:38

Dawn Wells on working on Growing Pains

00:22

Hollywood Squares, The

Dawn Wells on being on Hollywood Squares

00:46

Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The

Dawn Wells on Bob Denver's "Maynard" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

00:50

Password

Dawn Wells on the game shows she's been on

00:17

Pyramid (2002)

Dawn Wells on playing Pyramid, the Donny Osmond version

00:35

Rescue From Gilligan's Island

Dawn Wells on the Rescue from Gilligan's Island TV movie

01:31

Roseanne

Dawn Wells on working on Roseanne

00:32

Survivor

Dawn Wells on if she believes Gilligan's Island had anything to do with the creation of Survivor

00:45

Wild Wild West, The

Dawn Wells on working with Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West and doing stage work

01:19

Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Dawn Wells on proper attire and behavior for the characters on Gilligan's Island according to Standards & Practices

00:40

Characters & Catchphrases

Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers

01:14

Dawn Wells on the short shorts worn by her Gilligan's Islan d character, Mary Ann Summers

01:10

Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers, as a role model

01:42

Dawn Wells on the question of one's preference, "Ginger or Mary Ann?"

01:20

Dawn Wells on the evolution of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island

00:28

Comedy

Dawn Wells on her favorite episodes of Gilligan's Island

02:37

Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island

01:13

Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan

00:28

Criticism of TV

Dawn Wells on her reaction to critics of Gilligan's Island and on the cancellation of the show

01:47

Fame and Celebrity

Dawn Wells on her fan mail from Gilligan's Island fame

00:43

TV Theme Songs

Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song

00:36

Professions

Actress

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Dawn Wells on wanting to be an actress

02:35

Dawn Wells on teaching acting; on the Spud Fest Family Film Festival

02:59

Genres

Comedy Series

Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island

43:40

Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island

03:13

People

Adam West

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Dawn Wells on working with Adam West

00:35

Alan Hale, Jr.

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Dawn Wells on Alan Hale, Jr. ,"the Skipper" on Gilligan's Island

01:01

Barbara Eden

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Dawn Wells on friend Barbara Eden

01:46

Bob Denver

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Dawn Wells on "Gilligan," Bob Denver

02:26

Dawn Wells on a typical week working on Gilligan's Island

00:51

Dana Plato

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Dawn Wells on Dana Plato playing her daughter in the movie Return to Boggy Creek

00:39

Eddie Murphy

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Dan Wells on interviewing Eddie Murphy

00:48

Hal Cooper

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Dawn Wells on TV director Hal Cooper

00:31

Ida Lupino

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Dawn Wells on Ida Lupino, one of the first female TV directors

00:54

Jim Backus

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Dawn Wells on Jim Backus, "Thurston Howell III" on Gilligan's Island

01:06

Joey Bishop

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Dawn Wells on working with Joey Bishop

00:10

John Rich

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Dawn Wells on TV director John Rich

00:12

Joseph Cotten

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Dawn Wells on working with Joseph Cotten

00:16

Natalie Schafer

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Dawn Wells on Natalie Schafer, "Mrs. Lovey Howell" on Gilligan's Island

01:23

Dan Wells on Natalie Schafer modeling for Wells' clothing line

00:14

Phil Silvers

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Dawn Wells on Phil Silvers on Gilligan's Island

00:48

Richard Donner

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Dawn Wells on TV director Dick Donner

01:17

Roseanne

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Dawn Wells on working with Roseanne

00:45

Russell Johnson

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Dawn Wells on Russel Johnson, "Professor Roy Hinkley" on Gilligan's Island

01:34

Sherwood Schwartz

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Dawn Wells on how her credit was changed after the first season of Gilligan's Island

01:19

Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz

03:20

Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz

00:40

Dawn Wells on her friendship with the family of Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz

02:13

Tina Louise

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Dawn Wells on Tina Louise, "Ginger" on Gilligan's Island

02:40

Tom Hanks

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Dan Wells on interviewing Tom Hanks

00:16